3 New Dragon Ball Games and Hope for Improvement

[funrush]

2. RB1 and RB2 did, UT didn't, however.

I didn't play either, but wasn't the RB series' DLC just instant unlocks of characters already in the game?

[dbboxkaifan]

Burst Limit was the best game of this generation in my opinion.

Agreed. So far, Burst Limit is still the best DBZ game of this gen.

I didn't play either, but wasn't the RB series' DLC just instant unlocks of characters already in the game?

It was characters available in-game but with the max power.

Gohan Super Saiyan / Super Saiyan 2 DLC character had grey hair, awesome!

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

Not a bad analogy at all. Let's see if we can break it down and refocus it a bit for DBZ games (or at least the annualized big fighting game):

STAGE 1: NEW GAME ANNOUNCED (APRIL/MAY)
- first screen shot: Goku vs Vegeta
- if new developer, then promotion of innovative new art direction and gameplay
- if same developer, then promotion of numerous tweaks and refinement of beloved gameplay
- fans hopeful about Namco-Bandai listening to feedback and delivering fresh experience

STAGE 2: PROMOTION CYCLE (JUNE -> OCTOBER)
- developer inevitably revealed to be Spike
- monthly character reveals in batches of three, beginning with movie characters seen in prior games, but not this particular generation
- screen shots showcase battle system from dynamic camera angles, but...
- gameplay appears to be simplified further and further
- upon closer inspection, art style appears to be different just for the sake of being different with same character models from five years ago
- DLC hinted at with pre-orders or collector's edition
- fans worry about lack of development time

STAGE 3: GAME RELEASE (NOVEMBER)
- English title of Japanese name inexplicably changed for English-language release
- DLC never actually released
- gameplay simplified even more than could have been conceived
- fans simultaneously complain about lack of proper story mode AND too many fights stripped directly from the show
- sales plummet compared to previous year's game
- fans call for new developer with a fresh take on the series
- Namco-Bandai announces next new fighting game five/six months later regardless of whatever just happened

I dunno. Rough thoughts jotted down.

Yea, that seems to be how it goes.

Alright, so Raging Blast 3 developed by Spike and this time we'll get the never before seen Super 17, Baby, Master Roshi and Kid Goku. Also how can I forget SUPER SAIYAN 3 TRUNKS!!! There will be no demo, no DLC and the game will sink even lower. If Spike doesn't do it we'll start back at square one. The game will be watered down to only have characters from the Saiyan to Cell saga(especially Broly!). Fans will cry foul and Spike will come back the year after to show us how much we missed Great Saiyaman.

I hope I'm being over dramatic and wrong. I hope, before this generation ends, I can have just one decent Dragonball game. Namco-Bandai, I have $60 with your name on it. Just don't screw it up...again!

[dbboxkaifan]

Yea, that seems to be how it goes.

Alright, so Raging Blast 3 developed by Spike and this time we'll get the never before seen Super 17, Baby, Master Roshi and Kid Goku. Also how can I forget SUPER SAIYAN 3 TRUNKS!!! There will be no demo, no DLC and the game will sink even lower. If Spike doesn't do it we'll start back at square one. The game will be watered down to only have characters from the Saiyan to Cell saga(especially Broly!). Fans will cry foul and Spike will come back the year after to show us how much we missed Great Saiyaman.

I hope I'm being over dramatic and wrong. I hope, before this generation ends, I can have just one decent Dragonball game. Namco-Bandai, I have $60 with your name on it. Just don't screw it up...again!

The two Raging Blast games had demos for each, even Burst Limit too, Ultimate Blast did not have a public demo.

[DonieZ]

Oh sorry!!!! I didn't include Burst Limit in my track of thought. It probably didn't occur to me that it needed to be mentioned, the others don't contend with it.


Edit: RB is the best game from Spike this gen.

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

I don't remember the original Raging Blast having a demo. Only the second one.

[dbboxkaifan]

Edit: RB is the best game from Spike this gen.

RB1's gameplay is flawed and slow, still, if it's your fave/best of Spike this gen, fine.

I don't remember the original Raging Blast having a demo. Only the second one.

On PS3 I don't remember seeing a demo of RB1, but on Xbox LIVE it's available for everyone.

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

RB1's gameplay is flawed and slow, still, if it's your fave/best of Spike this gen, fine.

Not for nothing but your opinion on these games confuses the hell out of me. Personally I felt the combat between RB and RB2 to be pretty similar. I mean RB2 had some tweaks but not very many from what I remember. I'm just confused as to why you seem to like RB2 so much but ultimately hate Raging Blast and BT3. What is it that makes that game so awesome for you over the other two because I really can't figure it out. The flaws you pointed out in BT3 are still in RB2 and the Combat in RB1 is almost the same as it is in RB2. For the record I'm not saying you can't like RB2, I'm just not clear as to why.

Also, I guess there was a demo on the PS3(I found it hidden away in my download list). I just don't remember it all that well.

[DBZAOTA482]

Edit: RB is the best game from Spike this gen.

RB1's gameplay is flawed and slow, still, if it's your fave/best of Spike this gen, fine.

RB2's gameplay is even slower with most of the same flaws.

[Hellspawn28]

I think most fans don't care about good gameplay as long they just get the same old shit with new characters throw in it. You do something different, people hate it. I'm starting to think most fans like Spike over Dimps since I remember most fans that I knew were happy that RB made instead of Burst Limit 2. I have a feeling Bandai Namco thinks the same.

[goku the krump dancer]

People got excited about Raging Blast 1 because, given Spike's DBZ history at the time BT2 and 3 were the shit and on top of that Burst Limit was a HUGE let down for many people including myself.

As it stands BT3 was the best DBZ game Spike has put out and as far as this current gen of gaming goes, Raging Blast 2 is the best DBZ game to date. Sure its not as good as its PS2 ancestors but compared to the dull and repetitiveness of RB1, the let down known as Burst Limit and that nightmare known as Ultimate Tenkaichi, Raging Blast 2 is actually acceptable though it still suffers from some of that repetitiveness of RB1.

[DonieZ]

As I've said, you can't say bluntly as a statement that this game is better than that, for example RB2, without giving detailed and valid reasons. RB2 sold far far less than RB, and its review rating I've seen on Gamefaqs is also less than RB at 5.0, whilst the latter is 6.0. The user rating is also lower for RB2, at 7.8, with RB being 8.1 (though this isn't much so we can ignore that).

Anyway, the overall consensus from fans is that RB is better than RB2. Unless you can actually give me reasons then you are wrong by default.

[dbboxkaifan]

As I've said, you can't say bluntly as a statement that this game is better than that, for example RB2, without giving detailed and valid reasons. RB2 sold far far less than RB, and its review rating I've seen on Gamefaqs is also less than RB at 5.0, whilst the latter is 6.0. The user rating is also lower for RB2, at 7.8, with RB being 8.1 (though this isn't much so we can ignore that).

Anyway, the overall consensus from fans is that RB is better than RB2. Unless you can actually give me reasons then you are wrong by default.

People were devastasted with Raging Blast 1 and so RB2 did terrible in sales, at least that's the reason I can think of.

Another reason I don't want to touch my Raging Blast X360 is because it's the Limited Edition, the disc is regular, but don't wanna buy another one just for the disc.

I've not played any DBZ games, not much into it now I guess, Prince of Persia 08 and Sonic Unleashed are what I'm playing now.

[Super Saiyajin Luffy]

As I've said, you can't say bluntly as a statement that this game is better than that, for example RB2, without giving detailed and valid reasons. RB2 sold far far less than RB, and its review rating I've seen on Gamefaqs is also less than RB at 5.0, whilst the latter is 6.0. The user rating is also lower for RB2, at 7.8, with RB being 8.1 (though this isn't much so we can ignore that).

Anyway, the overall consensus from fans is that RB is better than RB2. Unless you can actually give me reasons then you are wrong by default.

I think, RB1 also got some extra points for the story mode from the reviewers, which RB2 lacked. But I think, it's all bout opinion to say, if RB1 or RB2 was better gameplay wise...
I can't say anything qualified bout the gameplay.

[Hellspawn28]

I personally enjoy the first RB game outside those stupid star pieces. RB2 give us more characters and better graphics but that's about it. I don't know why people want a 3rd game so badly?

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

I personally enjoy the first RB game outside those stupid star pieces. RB2 give us more characters and better graphics but that's about it. I don't know why people want a 3rd game so badly?

Holy crap I forgot about those damn star pieces. Worst. Idea. Ever. Also aside from Super Saiyan Banana hair, I think RB looked a bit better then RB2. Personally though I don't think either game is that pretty. I hate how the characters don't blend well at all with the backgrounds. I don't know how anyone can say these games look like the anime; look at Burst Limit, Ultimate Ninja Store, Cathrine, and that Studio Ghibli game then tell me these Spike games look like the anime.

[dbboxkaifan]

Holy crap I forgot about those damn star pieces. Worst. Idea. Ever. Also aside from Super Saiyan Banana hair, I think RB looked a bit better then RB2. Personally though I don't think either game is that pretty. I hate how the characters don't blend well at all with the backgrounds. I don't know how anyone can say these games look like the anime; look at Burst Limit, Ultimate Ninja Store, Cathrine, and that Studio Ghibli game then tell me these Spike games look like the anime.

Those star pieces were a pain to have, they could have added them to the list of Dragon Shenron wishes.

I don't think I'll ever unlock every single item that's locked due to requiring the Star Pieces.

About the graphics on RB1, RB1 looked more cartoony, while RB2 more plastic-ish, I like both but RB2 look nicer to me.

I hate the Galaxy Mode because it doesn't matter if it says "level: easy" it can very well be hard as hell and sometimes I'm unable to allow to complete the mission, or how I'd like to complete it.

Ginyu Vs. Gohan + Kuririn + Ginyu with the life bar at 0% isn't an easy task to accomplish.

For me, Spike did a great job on RB2, they didn't give us the usual story mode but a Galaxy Mode which is tiresome and complex at times, but fun to achieve.

And.. BT2's music on RB2 = awesome!

[InfernalVegito]

It's always the same. The cycle won't end as long as Namco and other rights-holders are satisfied or content with the sales, even if they're obviously decreasing with each consecutive year.
Personally I like RB1 over RB2 althouth I haven't touched it anymore after RB2's release. What I demand from a DBZ game is a fast gameplay that makes fun. Fun is a buzzword but the only DBZ game I play as of today is just BT3. The gameplay is so open and even though the combos are indeed limited they are very immersing. I can't really described it but the versatility of beam/volley attacks combined with meele attacks in MAX mode for instance make it great. Also I can evade attacks whenever I want and not when the game tells me I can. I want to have control over the game and not vice versa. So a good gameplay for me is when it's free roaming 3D style with fast movement. The RB games clearly reduced the pace and I didn't like this approach. RB2 had cool to learn and memorize combos but they kinda got old fast because of the stale gameplay.
If the next game is a polished RB3 or even BT4 then I'm in for it. For me BT/RB's gameplay is already good and doesn't need to be fixed, maybe just a little tweaked.

[Hellspawn28]

I think they are done with the BT/RB gameplay since they have been using it for six and half years. I think you once you do the same thing over and over again that it get's at a point where it becomes so dull. With Ultimate Blast that I give Spike doing something new with the gameplay, but it's a shame that most people hated it.

[dbboxkaifan]

I think they are done with the BT/RB gameplay since they have been using it for six and half years. I think you once you do the same thing over and over again that it get's at a point where it becomes so dull. With Ultimate Blast that I give Spike doing something new with the gameplay, but it's a shame that most people hated it.

Hated because it barely gave the user any chance to control the characters like previously on BT/RB.

It was a rock-paper-scissors game practically.

Nonetheless, this was still a pretty good game and shows Spike can do more than just Budokai Tenkaichi's or Raging Blast's.